Loom picker



Nov..9, 1937. F. w. MERRICK 2,098,589

LOOM PICKER Filed May 19, 1954 Patented Nov. 9, 1937 LOOM PICKER Frank W. Merrick, Boston, Mass., as signor to American Stay Company, East Boston, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application Mayr19, 1934, Serial N0. 726,511

13 Claims.

My invention, which relates to loom pickers, and has among its objects the provision of a. durable, Vreadily replaceable bunter head, will be best understood from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawing of an embodiment of the invention,`the scope of V,which will be more particularlypointed out in the appended claims.

Fig. .9 is-lasfrontand end elevation of another detail. g A

VReferring to `the drawing, the loom picker .comprises `a ybunter head which, as illustrated, is

:formedfof aplurality of laminations I ofleather or other suitable material. As shown, the bunter head in vtransverse crossssection is enlongated in jthedirection of the length ofthe stick, and preferably isoval-shaped in cross-section. In the present.form-ofthe invention, the bunter head is .provided with a shuttle point receiving recess 3 'of approximately conical shape, the laminations Lof the shuttle point engaging portion of the bunter head preferably being formed with appropriately .shaped perforations so that when the laminations Vare assembled the conical-shaped recess will be Hformed.

.Ithasbeen found that the bunter head tends to be deformedjn a direction lengthwise of the stick much more than laterally of the stick, and that ,this deformation is greater toward either the top lor bottomof the bunter head than in a transverse 'direction' depending upon whether the bunter head engages the shuttle point before or after the i picker "stick'passes through its vertical position.

Commonly, the bunter head engages theshuttle :point after the picker stick has moved to beyond its vertical position, and therefore the maximum 50v cursa't thatportion thereof which is between the Vshuttle'point.engaging recess and the top Aof the bunter head. Applicant has found that under .tendencyvof` deformation of the bunter head octhe lastnamcd conditions a more durable bunter head Visprovided by'positioning the axis of the shuttle point engaging recess 3 below'the longitudinal axisrof .the bunter head,` as clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5. In cases where the bunter head kengages the shuttle point before the picker stick has passed through its vertical position, in 5 which-case Vthe tendency of the bunter head to be deformed is `greatest below the shuttle point engaging recess, the bunter head shown in the drawing may be turned axially through 180 so that the shuttle point receiving recess is positioned above the axis of the bunter head.

As illustrated, the bunter head is provided with a metal holder comprising the upper and lower halyes, each comprising a bunter head casing portion 5 having integrally formed therewith a 15 pair of `arms 'I whichembrace the picker stick 9.

At the rearward side of the stick is positioned a member Il having oppositely projectinglugs I3 loosely iitting into perforations I5 at the ends of Athe respective arms 1. Asshown, this member I I :'20 .isprovided with ascrew threaded perforation I1 which receives a screw` I9, the latter being provided with `a polygonal recess 2I for receiving a key wrenchso that the'screw may be turned. Between the en-d of the screw I 9 and the picker stick 25 9 in the present form of the invention is provided a bearing plate '23 having a cup-shaped recess 25 for receiving the rounded end 2l of the screw. Conveniently, the plate 23 is provided at its upper edge with projecting lugs 24 which overlie the 30 arms 'l so as to cause the plate to be retained in operative position when the screw is loosened and the parts are in their position shown by Fig. 7.

In the present form of the invention, the upper and lower halves of the casing portion 5 of the 35 bunter head holder at their outer ends are provided with inturned lips 29 which engage with the upper and lower portions respectively of the end face of the bunterhead. With this construction, by backing off on the screw I9 the halves of the 40 bunter head holder may be readily spread apart to permit the insertion of the bunter head, the

. parts under these conditions being in the position shown by Fig. '7. By tighteningV the screw the halves of the bunter head holder may be held in closed position, as illustrated by Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6, operatively to clamp the `bunter head between the stick and the lips 29, the lat-eral walls of the'casing portions 5 of the holder under these conditions -bearing against the upper and lower por- `tions of the lateral walls of the bunter head to position the latter and aid in resisting lateral deformation thereof.

As illustrated, between the bunter head 'and theA stick is rpositioned a slightly curved spring member 3| provided with punch pricks 33 to provide points 35 adapted to be forced into the material of the stick when the parts are in the positions shown by Figs. 1 and 5. This spring forms a. bearing plate for the bunter head, and aids the operator in maintaining the picker in predetermined position when the holder is loosened for replacing the bunter head. As its end `portions are engaged by the edges of the casing portions 5 of the holder, it also acts to prevent any tendency of turning of the screw I9 when the loom is inr operation, and in this sense provides a nut lock for said screw. Conveniently, the spring at its upper and lower edges is provided with lips Y3l for engaging the adjacent edges of the portions 5 of the bunter head holder to minimize the tendency of the spring to fall when the parts are in the position shown by Fig. 7.

It will be observed that in the present construction the metallic casing for the bunter head is in substance longitudinally split so that'it may be spread apart to enable replacement ofthe bunter head. InV the absence of this construction, when a bunter head is to be replaced it is necessary to remove the holder from the stick and have the holder so formed that the laminations may be inserted through the opening which normally receives the stick. Ordinarily it is necessary to replace only the shuttle point engaging portion of the bunter head. With applicants construction this maybe readily accomplished and Without removing all the laminations from the holder. v

It will be understood that wide deviations may be made from the embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1. A loom pickerhaving, in combination, a bunter head, and meansl for securing said bunter head to a picker stick comprising separable iunconnected relatively' movable portions for engaging with opposite lateral sides of said head and with the outer end face only thereof, said means also comprising a picker stick embracing portion carrying'means cooperatinglwith said stick for drawing said portions and bunter head toward the stick.

2. A loom picker having, in combination, a bunter head, and a device for operatively holding said bunter head against one side of a picker stick having a bunterhead engaging portion and a picker stick embracing portion, said bunter head engaging portion being longitudinally split and comprising relatively movable members which adjacent said head are unconnected rendering said bunter head engaging portion capable of being freely opened and closed for replacement of said head and having end portions for engaging with that end of said bunter head which is remote from said stick, said picker stick embracingportion comprising means operatively acting against that side of the stick which is opposite said bunter headfor drawing said device in that direction which Vwill operatively clamp said bunter head between' said stick and said 'end portions of said bunter head engaging portion of said device. A 3. A loom picker having, in combination, a

`bunter head arranged operatively to contact with a Vside! ofthe picker stick, means for 4securing said bunter head to the picker stick comprising a plurality of relatively movable' members which adjacent said headV are unconnected and have end portions for engaging with the outer end portion of said head, a part to which said members are connected adapted to lie at the side of said stick opposite said head, and means acting to force Said part away from said stick for holding said members in engagement with said head.

4. A loom picker having, in combination, a bunter head, means for securing said bunter head to a pickerlrstick comprising a plurality of relatively movable members which adjacent said head are unconnected and have end portions for engaging with the outer end portion of said head, a part to which said members are connected adapted to lie at the side of said stick opposite said head, and means cooperating with said part Vandjsaid stick acting to force said part away from .said stick for causing said members to grip said to a picker stick comprising a pair of members formed to provide a bunter head holder, each of said members having arms adapted to lie at opposite sides of said stick, a member adapted to lie at the side of said stick opposite said bunter head, means pivotally connecting said arms to the last mentioned member for movement about a p'ivotal axiswhich lies in a plane including the longitudinal axis of said bunter Ahead,Y and means coop- VVerating with said last mentioned member and the stick for forcing said member away from the stick; i Y

7. A loom picker having, in combination,` a bunter'head, means for securing said vbunter head to a picker stick comprising a pair of members 'formed to provide a bunter head holden-each of said members having arms adapted to lie at oppo- 'site sides of said stick, a member adapted'to lie at the side of said stick opposite said bunter head, means pivotally connecting said arms to the last mentioned member for movement about a pivotal axis which lies in a plane including the longitudinal axis of said bunter head, a compression spring device between said head and the stick, and means cooperating with said last mentioned member and said stick for forcing said member away from the stick.

Y 8. A loom picker having means for securing a bunterhead to the picker stick and operatively clamping it against a side of the stick comprising a bunter head holder having a portion for engaging with the lateral sides and with that end face of the bunter head which is remote from the stick and being open'at the end thereof adjacent the stick, said holder comprising rela.- tively movable parts which adjacent the bunter head are unconnected rendering said holder ca- J pable of being opened and closed for replacement of said head.

9. VA loom picker having means for securing a bunter head to the picker stick and operatively clamping it against a side of the stick compris' ing a bunter head holder having a portion for engaging with the lateral sides and with that end face of the bunter headV which is remote from the stick and being open at the end thereof adjacent the stick, said holder comprising'l hingedly connected relatively movable parts which adjacent the bunter head are unconnected rendering said holder capable of being opened 'and closed for replacement of said head.

10. A loom picker having, in combination, a bunter head having a shuttle point receiving cavity the axis of which is situated at one side of the longitudinal axis of the body portion of said head in a plane including the axis of the picker stick, and a holder for said head comprising a pair of separable portions adapted to engage opposite sides of said head, said holder being so constructed as to engage the picker stick with said separable portions respectively situated at the upper and lower sides of said head.

11. A loom picker having, in combination, a bunter head having a shuttle point receiving cavity the axis of which is situated below the longitudinal axis of the body portion of said head in a plane including the axis of the picker stick, and a holder for said head comprising a pair of separable portions adapted to engage opposite sides of said head, said holder being so constructed as to engage the picker stick with said separable portions respectively situated at the upper and lower sides of said head.

12. A loom picker having, in combination, a. bunter head of elongated cross-section, a holder for said head for securing it to the picker stick with the longer dimension of said cross-section parallel to the axis of said stick, and a holder for said head comprising a pair of separable portions adapted to engage opposite sides of said head, said holder being so constructed as to engage the picker stick with said separable portions respectively situated at the upper and lower sides of said head.

13. A loom picker having, in combination, a bunter head of elongated cross-section, a holder for said head for securing it to the picker stick with the longer dimension of said cross-section parallel to the axis of said stick, said head having a shuttle point receiving cavity the axis of which is at one side of the longitudinal axis of said head in a plane including the axis of said stick, and a holder for said head comprising a pair of separable portions adapted to engage opposite sides of said head, said holder being so constructed as to engage the picker stick with said separable portions respectively situated at the upper and lower sides of said head.

FRANK W. MERRICK. 

